Automatic announcement-graphophone.



T. H. MAGDON ALD.

EMBNT GRAPHOPHONB. ILED-DEO.9,19OB.

AUTOMATIC ANNOUNJ Patented PLIC F T. H. MACDONALD. AUTOMATIC ANNOUNUBME NT GBAEHOPHONB. APPLICATION FILED B Patented Nev. 25,1913.

JIM x M N f AUTOM Patented -N0v. 25, 1913.

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THOMAS H. MACDONALD, F BRIDGEPORT, CQ NNEGTICUT, ASSIGNdR T0 AMERICAN GRAPHOPHONE COMPANY, OF BRIDGEPQB C N E C A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

AUTOMATIC ANNOUNCEMENT-GRAPHOPHONE.

Application filed December 9, 1908. Serial No. 466,680.

To all who-m z'tmay concern.

Be it known that I, THOMAS H. Mac- DONALD, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Bridgeport, Con- I the like and cams, etc., for actuatingsaid' clutch in alternate directions at the proper necticut, have invented anew and useful Automatic Announcement-Graphophone, which is fully set forth in the following specification.

My invention relates to automatically operating talkin -machines for uttering a number of different announcements, the periods of announcements alternating with intervals of silence.

Briefly stated, my invent-idnconsists in the provision of a continuously operating driving device from which the sound-record tablet and the reproducer are automatically and intermittently operated.

It further consists of the provision of means for automatically restoring the machine to initial position at the proper, time.

More particularly, my invention comprises the following features: first, a clutch for connecting and disconnecting the ordinary grap hophone and a continuously rotating driving-pulley; second, gearing or interval; third, means for adjusting the last-named devices, whereby the intervals may be altered; fourth, means for restoring the machine to initial position; fifth, means (operating when the last announcement of the series has been' made) to bring the restoring-mechanism into play; sixth, other adjusting-means.

My invention consists of the combination heretofore indicated, and further of certain details of construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter pointed out and claimed.

Theinvention is applicable to disk ma-.

chines so-called but I shall explain it in connection with the annexed drawings that illustrate a preferred embodiment applied to a. graphophone of the type using cylin drical sound-records.

In these drawings, Figure 1 is a partly broken-away plan view of a graphophone of ordinary construction having my present invention combined therewith, the same being shown in position of making the announcement of the series; Fig. 2 is a section through line 2-2 of Fig. 1'. is

Specification of Letters Patent.

the carriage and speaker Patented Nov. 25, 1913.

a transverse sectional view taken through of the graphophone; and Fig. +1 is a longitudinal vertical section through the left-hand portion of Fig. 1, illustrating certain details.

The drawings show the frame of the machine, comprising the usual end-plates 1 and 2; also the main shaft 3 with its mandrel 4 carrying an interchangeable recordcylinder 5; likewise the reproducer-carriage G with its partial nut 7 engaging the feedscrew 8; besides indicating suitable trains of gearing connecting shaft 3 with the feedscrew 8 and with the governor (not shown), -all as usual. The motor (indicated at 9, Fig. 2) is supposed to run continuously; but the main shaft 3 and the other working parts of the graphophone proper remain stationarylexcept when a clutch is applied to connect the main shaft with the drivingpulley 10, which latter is loose on the protruding end of-the shaft 3 and driven from the motor, as by a belt. This continuouslyrevolving pulley 10 carries on its hub the pinion 11, which is continuously driving the train that shifts the clutch referred to, and from the same train is attuated the mechanism for engaging and disengaging) the return-screw and graphopl'ione carriage. The return-screw itself is driven from the same pinion 11.

The clutch-The left-hand end of the main shaft 3 is hollow, and in itis carried the stem 12 of the clutch-head 13, the latter being located beyond the pulley and having a serrated face to engage counterserrations on the adjacent face of the hub of pulley 10. On the main shaft 3 is a shiftcollar 14 carrying a transverse pin 15 that passes through longitudinal slots in the shaft 3, and engages the stem 12. When this collar is thrown to the left, the clutch is disengaged, and the graphophone-mechanism remains idle, although the pulley 10 and its train continue to revolve; when collar 14 is shifted to the right, the clutch is engaged and the driving-pulley operates the graphophone in the usual manner.

Clutch-shifting mechanism.'-The pulleypinion 11 drives the s zed-reducing train 16, 17, 18; on the shaft of'gear 18 is a worm 19 in mesh with worm-gear 20 on thetrans verse shaft 21; and this shaft 21 carries the cam comes opposite,

cam-wheels 22 and 23 which control the shifting of clutch-collar 14. The outer cam, 22, is circumferentially adjustable upon its shaft. The cams are driven (from the pulley 10) in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. at. The reduction from the pulley to this transverse shaft 21 and the cams, is s00; so that, with the usual reproducing-speed of talking-machines, 1G0 revolutions to the minute, it is evident that these cams will make a complete revolution once in two and one-half minutes.

Mounted in suitable bearings below and parallel with the transverse shaft 21 is a rock-shaft 24:; and a yoke 25 fast upon sa d rock-shaft engages the annular groove in the shift-collar 14:; so that the axial rocking of rock-shaft 24 swings the yoke from side to side and results in shifting collar 1.4 longitudinally upon the main shaft 3, thus bringing the graphophone into or out. of operation.

A pawl26 is mounted loosely upon rock shaft 24, near the rear end thereof lying in the plane of the forward cam 23, so that its nose can engage the seat shown in the cam; this pawl is drawn to the left against the cam, by the strong spiral spring 27, whose other end is connected to a pin driven into the frame; and when the seat of the the nose of the pawl is forced into it by the spring. Mounted rigidly on the same rock-shaft, in the plane of the outer cam 22, is another pawl 28, whose nose can engage in the seat in its cam, and a somewhat weaker spring (mounted similarly to spring 27 serves to draw this arm to the right, against its cam 22. A pin 29 on the rock-shaft 24; engages a shoulder on the 'hub of this loose pawl 26, so that when the the strong spring 27 seat in cam 23 permits to draw the loose pawl 26 to the left, the rock shaft 24 is thereby rocked counterclockwise, disengaging its pawl 28 from its cam seat and shifting the collar 14 to the left,-thus disengaging the clutch 13.

In the drawings the apparatus is shown as operating just after the clutch has been thrown into engagement. The two cams 23 and 22 have moved their respective pawls 26 and 28 to the right, and thereby have shifted the clutch-head 13 into engagement, which operation is performed once every two and a half minutes as indicated above. The graphophone will continue to operate in the well-known manner until, by the continued revolution of cam 23, its cut-away portion permits the nose of pawl 26 to be drawn to the left by its strong spring 27; this (by means of. pin 29 shifts the rockshaft 24. to the left, and thereby the shiftcollar 14 is moved to the. left and the clutch becomes disengaged. It remains disengaged for two minutes and twenty seoonds, until the further revolution of the cams lifts pawl 26 out of its seat in cam 23 and permits pawl 28 to drop into its seat in cam 22; when, as before, follow the ten seconds of engagement and running of the graphophone. The duration of the running of the graphophone will be determined by the relative positions .of the seats in the two cams 22 and 23; and by eircumferentially adjusting the cam 22, the duration of this audible reproduction ,can be nicely adjusted.

By the mechanism hereinbefore described, from the pulley 10 with its pinion 11, through the reducing train and cams, and the rock-shaft with its pawls and yoke, the clutch 14 is thrown into engagement once every 80 two and a half minutes; and by the proper adjustment of the cam 22, the clutch is thrown out of engagement at the predetermined interval of (say) about tentseconds thereafter; and this alternation is repeated continuously until all the announcements upon the record-cylinder 5-in' practice twenty-four-have been made. At the end of this time the carriage 6 is to be restored to its initial position.

The return.-This may be accomplished by means of mechanism for disengaging the graphoph-one carriage from the forward feed-screw and engaging it with the returnscrew, and the return-screw and means for driving it. Mounted in end-plates 1 and 2, and at the rear of the machine, is the longitudinal rock-shaft 30. At the left end of this shaft is fixed a pawl 31; and a spring 32 (at the other end) tends to turn the rockshaft so as to lift the nose of this pawl; but the nose of this pawl is held down by the' pe- -riphery of revolving disk 33, and can be raised by the spring only when the seat 34 of the disk is brought opposite the pawl. Disk 33 is on a shaft that carries wormgear 34, in mesh with worm 35 on the before-mentioned transverse shaft 21. The reduction from shaft 21 to disk 33 is twentyfour so that (shaft 21 revolving once every two and one-half minutes) disk 33 revolves once every hour, and once every hour spring 32 rocks the rook-shaft 30. Fast on this shaft 30 are arms 36-36, that carry the longitudinal rod 37 which serves as the guide-rod for the forked rear end of the rear guide-arm 38 of the carriage (5. Vhen, once every hour, the rock-shaft is tilted, the arm 38 is tilted upon the forward guide-rod 39, and the feed-nut 7 is disengaged from feed-screw 8 (and the reproducirig-stylus is lifted from record cylinder 5); by the same movement another partial feed nut 4-0 is brought into mesh with the return-screw 41, suitably mounted in end-plates 1 and 2, 5 and driven from the pulley-pinion 11 by an intermediate gear 4-2. By the time the carriage has been restored to its initial position at the left of the machine, the further revolution of disk 33 will have forced pawl rear of guide 38,

the cams 31 down, which tilts rock-shaft 30 and lowers the guide-rod and this lowers the disengaging return-nut nut 7 (and the reated the one to open said clutch and the other to close the same at predetermined intervals, one of said cams being movable relatively to the other to vary the intervals.

4. In a talking machine. the combination of a carriage, a main shaft and a continuously moving driving device, of aclutch for engaging the two, and two sets of cain op erated mechanisms automatically operated the one to open said clutch and the other to close the same at predetermined intervals, one of said cams being rotatable relatively to the other to vary the intervals.

5. In a talking machine. the combination o prevent any chance of forcing the carriage too far to the left before disk I of a carriage, a main shaft and a driving forces down pawl 31, the screw-thrnds of shaft, of a clutch for engaging the two, return-screw 41 are discontinued, as at 43; cam mechanism automatically operated to' actuate said clutch at predetermined intervals, saidcam mechanism being adjustable to vary said intervals, means for automati cally returning the carriage to its initial position at-a predetermined time. and means whereby the time of return is adjusted.

6. In a talking machine, the combination of a carriage, a main shaft and a driving device, a clutch for-engagii'ig the two, and cam mechanism automati ally operated for and preferably-the screw-shaft all is itself made longitudinallyadjustable, to obtain the desired positioning of this point 43. In end-plate 2 the longitudinally-adjustable sleeve44 is held in adjustment by set-screw and the end of screw-shaft 41 is journaled in this sleeve, where it is held from slipping out, as by a screw. In the opposite end-plate 1 is a somewhatsimilar sleeve 46, carrying the left end of screw-shaft 41,

and held in position by a set-screw; A hub actuating said clutch at predetermined in 47 turns loosely on sleeve 4:6, but is held tervals, said mechanism including means for thereon by a set-screw 48 entering the anvarying said intervals.

nular groove inthe end of the sleeve. This 7. In a talking machine. the combination hub is keved to the shaft 41 and carries of a main shaft, and a driving-pulley, of a pinion 49 in mesh with gear 42 (that is clutch for engaging the two, a reducingtrain from by, and a by said cams said clutch. 8. In a talking machine, the combination of a main'shaft, and a driving-pulley, of a clutch for engaging the two, a reducing said pulley, cams actuated thererock-shaft having pawls actuated and carrying a yoke actuating driven by the pulley-pinion 11). T turn-screw is adjusted b screw-45, and shifting sleeve 44 with the shaft 41.

I have described my invention with some particularity, but only for the sake of clearness, since it is not limited to the precise constructions and arrangements of )arts train from said pulley, two cams actuated shown. Changes may be made in these, and thereby, one of said cams being ad ustable,

exclusion the spirit pawls actuated by some of the features used to the a yoke actuating of others, without departing from of my invention.

Iaving thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a talking machine, the combination of a main shaft,- a continuously moving driving device, a clutch for engaging the two, and cam mechanism automatically operated at predetermined intervals for closing and opening said clutch.

In a talking machine, the combination of a main shaft, a continuously moving driving device, a clutch for engaging the two, cam, mechanism tllltOll'lfitlCfillY operated at predetermined intervals for closing and and a rock-shaft having said cams and carrying said clutch.

isengaging said feed-nut and engaging said return-nut with said return-' screw, and automaticallyoperated mecha-, nism for holding'said rock-shaft against tilting but permit-ting it to tilt at a predetermined period, whereby said carriage is returned to its initial position.

opening said clutch, said cam mechanism be- 10. In a talking machine, the combination ing adjustal'ile to vary the intervals. ot a carriage having a rear arm carrying a 3. In a talking machine. the combination fecal-nut and a return feed-nut, of a return of a carriage, Zl ll'lfiin shaft'aiid a continu- I fccdscrew and means for rotating it, a rockously ii'ioving .lriving device. of a clutch shaft carrying a guide-rod engaged by said for engaging thetvvo. and two sets of cam rear arm, means 'tendin to tilt said rockoperatcd mechanisms automatically opershaft for disengaging said feed-nut and ensaid cam-wheel.

11. In a talking machine, the combination of a main shaft, carriage, and forward feedscrew, of a driving-pulley, a clutch for engaging said shaft and pulley, a rock-shaft having pawls. and carrying a yoke for shifting said clutch, a reduction-train driven from said pulley and cams driven thereby in operative relation to said pawls, another cam driven from said reduction-train, a return feed-screw driven from said pulley, and

means controlled by the last-named cam for disengaging the carriage from the feedscrew and engaging it with the returnscrew.-

12. In a talking machine, the combination of a carriage, 'a main shaft and a driving device, a clutch for engaging the two, automatically operated mechanism for actuating said clutch at predetermined intervals, said mechanism including means for varying said intervals, additional automatically operated mechanism for returning the carriage to its initial position, and adjusting means for regulating the time of completing said return.

13. vIn a talking machine, the combination of a record driving shaft, a driving pulley, a clutch for engaging the two, automatically operating cam mechanism controlling the starting and stopping of said record driving shaft, a rock shaft, connections between said rock shaft and clutch, and connections be tween said rock shaft and cam mechanism.

14:. In a talking machine, the combination of a record driving shaft, a driving pulley, a clutch for engaging the two,can1 mechanism driven from said pulley controlling the starting and stopping of said record driving shaft, a rock shaft, connections between said rock shaft and clutch, and connections be tween said rock shaft and cam mechanism. 15. In a talking machine, the combination of a main shaft, a driving pulley, a clutch for engaging the two, two rotating cams, one operating to open said clutch and the other operating to close said clutch, and connections between said cams and said clutch whereby said clutch is automatically opened and closed at predetermined intervals.

16; In a talking machine, the combination of a main shaft, a driving pulley, a clutch for engaging the two, two rotating cams one operating to open said clutch and the other operating to close said clutch, a pawl associated with eachof said cams, and connections between said pawls andclutch.

17. In a talking machine, the combination of a main shaft, a driving pulley, a clutch for engaging the two, two rotating cams one operating to open said clutch and the other operating to close said clutch, a rock shaft, a pawl associated with each cam mounted on said rock shaft, one of said pawls being fixed to said shaft and the other being loose thereon, and connections between said rock shaft and clutch.

18. In a talking machine, the combination of a main shaft and a driving pulley, a clutch for engaging the two, two rotating cams one operating to open said clutch and the other operating to close said clutch, connections between said cams and said clutch whereby said clutch is automatically opened and closed at predetermined intervals, one of said cams being adjustable with relation to the other to vary said intervals.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS H. MACDONALD. \Vitnesses 2 IL B. Kicouou, Ii. 13. NICHOLSON,

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

